World’s best curlers are coming to Las Vegas

In a joint announcement today by the Canadian Curling Association (CCA), U.S. Curling Association (USCA) and World Curling Federation (WCF), it was revealed that the 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup will be staged here January 16-19 at the 5,000-seat Orleans Arena, home to hockey’s Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.

It marks the first time that the event will be held in the United States and the first time outside of Canada. It also will be the first time that Las Vegas has hosted a curling event of this magnitude.

Las Vegas will host the 2014 WFG Continental Cup

The WFG Continental Cup is a unique, Ryder Cup-like competition pitting six (four-person) teams (three women’s and three men’s) from North America (two from USA, four from Canada) against six teams representing The World, in a variety of curling disciplines over a four-day period – Team Games, Mixed Doubles, Singles, Skins and Mixed Skins, with each segment worth a specified number of points. Each side will also have a captain and a coach.

Presently, North America and The World are deadlocked at four wins apiece since the inaugural Cup in 2002 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

“Las Vegas is one of the iconic destinations in the world,” said World Curling Federation President Kate Caithness. “The World Curling Federation and its partners, the World Financial Group, the Canadian Curling Association and the U.S. Curling Association, are thrilled to be able to showcase the sport of curling and its top international players in such a high profile location just ahead of the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“Place your bets as to who will win this tightly-fought competition which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Las Vegas. One thing is for sure, for all involved, the biggest winner at this event will be our sport and the exposure for its finest athletes.”

The 2014 edition will also mark the fourth year of title sponsorship by World Financial Group, which is also a full sub-sponsor of the CCA’s Season of Champions through the 2013-14 season.

“The World Financial Group Continental Cup continues to build momentum and demonstrate its special place in the sport of curling,” explained Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Curling Association. “This international event is undergoing some exciting format changes this January in Penticton and to further accentuate the profile of the event, we have worked closely with our partners at the United States Curling Association and the World Curling Federation to find a model that will work for this prestigious event to be held in Las Vegas – with all the glitz and glamour that come with such a wonderfully unique setting.

“We felt that this would be a great profile for the sport with some of the world’s greatest curling athletes coming to Vegas only weeks before the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.”

“The stars have finally aligned. The many years of effort by countless people are finally paying off, and I’d say the odds are that this event will be a winner in Las Vegas,” said Rick Patzke, Chief Operating Officer of the United States Curling Association.

Event tickets are expected to go on sale in early 2013.

“We have a long-established commitment to bringing elite sporting events to Nevada,” said Brian Krolicki, Nevada’s Lieutenant Governor. “We are honored to partner with the World Curling Federation, the Canadian Curling Association and USA Curling to bring the World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling to the United States for the first time.”

Added Rossi Ralenkotter, President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, “We are excited to showcase the World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling in Las Vegas. With our world-class resorts, entertainment, shopping, dining and nightlife, Las Vegas offers a one-of-a-kind experience for the players and the fans.”

“WFG is proud to be partnered with the CCA and title sponsor of the Continental Cup,” said Richard Williams, President, World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Canada and WFG Securities of Canada.

“Our company has been committed to the sport of curling since 2006, and this will be our fourth year as the title sponsor of this unique competition. We look forward to seeing teams from around the globe come together and share this sport with such a large audience. Just as curling is expanding its reach throughout the world, WFG seeks to expand its reach into communities throughout Canada and the United States to help families achieve their financial goals and dreams.”

“We are excited to work with the Canadian Curling Association, the World Curling Federation, the U.S. Curling Association and the Las Vegas Host Committee to help ensure that the 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup in Las Vegas is a great success.”

Canada’s teams will be the winners of the upcoming Capital One Canada Cup, November 28-December 2 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, along with the winners of the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and 2013 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian women’s and men’s championships, respectively. The teams representing the United States may very likely be those that will compete for USA at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia a few weeks following the Continental Cup.

Teams representing The World will be determined from the results of the 2012 Le Gruyère European Championships in December in Karlstad, Sweden, the 2013 World Women’s in Riga, Latvia and Ford World Men’s in Victoria, British Columbia.

North America has won the Cup in 2002 in Regina, 2004 and 2007 in Medicine Hat and 2011 in St. Albert, Alberta, while Team World emerged victorious in 2003 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, 2006 in Chilliwack, BC, 2008 in Camrose, Alberta and 2012 in Langley, BC.

The 2013 WFG Continental Cup is slated for Penticton, British Columbia, January 10-13. There will be a revamped points system in place for this edition, with a total of 60 points (instead of 400) now available from all of the segments. The first side to reach at least 30 ½ points will be declared the winner.